Some noticeable improvements will be made at Southwind Park, Lincoln Greens and other local park facilities over the next few years.

Springfield Park Board President Leslie Sgro said the upcoming projects include adding cart paths to four holes at Lincoln Greens and repairing the wind turbine at Southwind Park. The park district is also getting ready to put together a five- to seven-year plan for the future, she said.

Sgro, who has served as president of the park board for the past 23 years, spoke to The State Journal-Register’s editorial board Tuesday about the upcoming projects.

“After a period of growth, we are focused now on improving our facilities,” Sgro said.

Funding will come from capital improvement bonds issued in 2012 and 2014. The district routinely issues these bonds on a two-year cycle. The 2012 bond issue was for about $1.5 million, and this year’s bond was $1.65 million.

The cost of adding cart paths to four holes at Lincoln Greens is estimated at $100,000.

Sgro said the paths are needed because after heavy rain, the course is too wet in certain areas for golf carts. The park district hasn’t decided which holes will get the paths.

“We’re trying to look at where we can put them to get the best return for the golfers,” Sgro said.

The Lincoln Greens project is scheduled for 2015 or 2016.

The Southwind Park wind turbine was installed in April 2011. Funds to pay for it included a $50,000 grant and about $100,000 from the park district.

There have been ongoing problems with the turbine, and it is currently not working.

Repairs are estimated at $48,000, with about half coming from the park district and the rest from the Springfield Parks Foundation, a private fundraising group.

The park board has not approved a contract yet, but if all goes as planned, repairs could be completed within the next six months.

“We have to fix it or get into serious complications with the grant money,” Sgro said. “Believe me, we all had the thought of, ‘Can’t we just take it down?’”

Starting in late September or October, the park district will start work on a five- to seven-year plan outlining future needs. It will identify what each park is offering and what improvements are needed.

“We also want to look districtwide,” Sgro said. “Where should we be channeling our resources, what does the community want us to look like, and what do they want us to provide?”

Public meetings will be held to get people’s input on the plan. Those meetings have not yet been scheduled.